Chapter Twenty One
Hermione
"Well what's the plan?" George asked, shoving his selections of Weasley explosives into his bag.
"I beg your pardon?" the minister replied. The members of the D.A were huddled around the minister after Harry had informed them what was happening.
"Do we bomb it or do you know how to get past the barrier?" Parvati asked
"I'm afraid ʽweʼ aren't going to do anything, the ministry will handle things from here" the minister answered "This is too risky, I cannot allow you to come"
"You don't get to decide that" George said, folding his arms in defiance.
"That's not fair, they deserve to come with us"Harry protested
"You're not coming either Harry" Mr. Weasley
"You're too important Harry" the minister added before Harry could protest.
"You're kidding right? The war is over, I defeated Voldermort; what more is there?" Harry asked
"You represent a beckon of hope for the wizarding world Harry; we're still rebuilding and trying to change the perception and old fears people still have, if something should happen to you, there might be more unrest that the death eaters on the run still pose a threat" Elphias Doge said
"That's bonkers and you know it" Harry said
"The war may be over Harry, but you are still as important now as before" Mr. Weasley said
"Well I'm not going to stay here and do nothing" Harry said
"Neither are we" Ginny said. The rest of the D.A nodded in agreement
"We are every bit as capable as you, don't treat us like children" Parvati chimed in
"We are not children, not after everything that's happened" Lavender added
"I'm sorry, but I simply cannot allow this" the minister persisted
"Well you can't stop us either" George said
"George Weasley you will listen to Kingsley, we are all in agreement here" Mr. Weasley said
"Sorry dad, but I'm with George on this one" Ginny said
"Shut up! All of you" Hermione yelled in frustration "We're wasting time standing here arguing, you can either agree that we join you or we find a way over that barrier ourselves, either way I am not going to stand here one more minute listening to this"
Everyone looked at her, surprised by her outburst.
"Ms. Granger please, this is a very delicate matter" Elphias said.
"You can come along" the minister said
"Kingsley you can't be serious" Miranda Gosgook cried, but the minister cut her off
"You will not do anything to deliberately put yourselves in danger and you will follow orders exactly as given is that clear?"
"Fine" Hermione said. The minister looked at her apprehensively before nodding "Alright, now show us the barrier"
Draco
He couldn't be sure how long he sat in that cellar, maybe minutes, maybe hours, he couldn't be sure of anything right now. He didn't have his wand anymore, so all he could do was sit and wait for whoever was had brought him here to come down and either kill him or take him up the stairs where merlin knows what was waiting for him. He was scared but not for himself; he was scared for his mother, he didn't have his wand so how was he going to get her out of here? He kept thinking that he should have listened to Potter and go back to figure out a way for all of them to cross instead of trying to do this on his own. His only consolation was that Hermione would be safe and far away from all of this. He'd almost exhausted himself trying to escape from this stupid cellar but the man had been right, there was no way to escape. He sat against the hard cold wall, trying not to think the worse.
"Get on your knees boy" the man said, coming down the stairs "No funny business or I'm going to finish you off myself ya hear?" He stood up and the man unlocked the cellar.
"Come here" the man said. He walked over, trying to control his fingers that were itching to strangle the man. The man stepped aside to let him pass, but Draco still unable to make out a face beneath the hood. The clicks from his shoes echoed loudly as he walked up the steps, an endless spiral that just kept climbing and climbing. He forced himself to keep climbing, even though his legs were protesting in pain. When he got to the top of the stairway, three death dealers were waiting for him.
"What? It takes three of you to take me down? I'm flattered" he said callously
"Move" another man said pointing his wand at Draco.
"What do you want with me?" Draco asked "Where is my mother?"
"I said move" the death dealer shouted "Don't make me tell you again"
He started walking, careful not to do or say anything further that might upset them. I need to get to my mother first. They walked along the deserted hallway, there were no paintings or photographs on the wall, nothing that indicated that life was once present, it seemed to give off sadness; as if these halls only knew unhappiness. It was grey except for the parts where the red moon shown through the think grey curtains. Draco felt as if all the happiness was being slowly taken from him. When they reached the end of the hall there was a huge wooden door with the engravings of a tree etched into it.
"In you go" the death dealer in front of him instructed.
Three hooded figures were standing in the center of the dimly lit room as he entered. The room screamed sacred sanctuary; there were candles all over the room whiles the heavens looked down on them from above; casting dark shadows everywhere. It looked as if it was once a place of worship, now defiled somehow. The first figure was tall whiles the other two were shorter, one lanky and the other plumb so far as he could tell.
"Nice of to join us Draco" the tallest death eater said
"Where's my mother?" he asked
"All in due time" the second one said
"What do you want with me?" Draco asked forcefully.
"You are here because of your family's betrayal"
"My family didn't betray anyone so spare me the guilt trip"
"All the same, you deserve to be punished" the smaller
"I am going to ask you again, where is my mother?" Draco asked, balling his fists up. Already a plan was forming in his head; all he had to do was over power the short fat one. If he played this right he could take his wand.
"I don't think you are in a position to make demands Draco" the lanky one said
"Who are you?"
"I'm surprised you didn't recognize me sooner, but then again why should you? I was just your pawn for seven years" the short one asked, throwing his hood back.
"Goyle?" Draco sputtered at the sight of seeing his friend standing before him "You kidnapped my mother?"
"I'm surprised you didn't work it out sooner Malfoy, I guess you aren't as smart as people think"
"But how?" he asked, still in disbelief about his former friend. There was no way Goyle could have broken into his house without leaving a trace.
"It was rather easy actually" Goyle said "Do you remember that day we were hanging out in your father's office? We came across that secret passageway that leads straight to the gardens…"
It was as if someone had smacked Draco all of a sudden, how could he have forgotten about the passageway?
"We were in and out of their faster than you could say Quiddich, no one saw us coming, it was brilliant; the order and their stupid protection detail, they're patterns are so predictable. After a week observing their movements it wasn't hard to figure out who would be on shift and so on, and all we had to do was send a stupid letter to Patil as a matter of urgency"
Draco stood silent, wrapping his head around what he was hearing. He had to admit, it was really was brilliant.
"Why did you take my mother?" he asked
"We needed her to get to you" the tallest figure said
"And who the hell are you?"
"You do not speak to me that way child!" the death eater yelled "Alarte Ascendare!"
The huge blast sent him sailing across the room where he landed hard against a statue. He cried out in pain and sank in an awkward angle on the ground.
"Not so tough without your wand are ya?" Goyle snickered
"Why don't you give it back to me and we'll see who's laughing then?" he muttered, trying to catch his breath.
"Do I look stupid to you?ˮ Goyle asked, walking over and grabbing him by his hair. "You bossed us around for years, how do you like it now huh?ˮ
"This is what it's about? Me bossing you around?ˮ Draco asked, struggling against the boy's grip, "You were too stupid to think for yourselvesˮ
Goyle flared up in a rage and pointed his wand to Draco's throat "Say it again and we'll see just how stupid I amˮ
"Enough Goyle, we can't kill him, not yet at leastˮ the taller death eater said. Goyle let go of him reluctantly. Draco struggled to get on his knees, the sharp pain in his back travelling up to his head.
"Bring her inˮ the taller death eater instructed the lanky one. He disappeared behind the shrine of candles and emerged afew minutes later with his mother.
"Draco! Oh Dracoˮ she cried, struggling against the death eater's grip.
"Mother… what have they done to you?ˮ he asked, choking up at the sight of her. She was so thin, the hollows in her eyes a sharp contrast against her pale skin which was now waxy. She looked like she hadn't eaten or slept in days; her hair was disheveled and her clothes were torn in several different places. She looked frightened, evident by the bruises and cuts on her face and arms. Some of the bruises looked fresh.
"What did you do to her?!ˮ He shouted, storming forward
"Not so fastˮ the taller one said, pointing his wand at him
"Please, please don't hurt himˮ his mother cried, going onto her knees "I beg you please let him goˮ
The death eaters laughed and the lanky one grabbed her by her hair pulling her head back. She howled out in pain and it was if someone had stabbed Draco in the chest.
"Let her go!ˮ he yelled, rage tearing through his veins, fueling him.
"But she's going to miss the showˮ Goyle said, chuckling
"What show?ˮ Draco asked, shaking with anger. He was already picturing how he would make them suffer.
"Your death of courseˮ the taller one said
"Please Crabbe, let my son go, I'll do anything please, he doesn't deserve thisˮ his mother sobbed.
"Crabbe?ˮ he asked
The taller death eater lowered his hood and the cold hard face of Crabbe senior starred back at him murderously.
"He deserves everything that's coming to him; after all he was responsible for killing my sonˮ Crabbe senior spat venomously.
"This is what why you kidnapped my mother? I didn't kill Vincent, his own spell caused him to die in that fire, there was nothing we could do to save himˮ Draco said
"Liar! You made him go into that room, you made him stay back instead of finding safetyˮ Crabbe senior spat
"Vincent didn't have to come; he chose to, his own ignorance started that fire and…ˮ
"Don't you dare speak of him like that!" Crabbe senior bellowed "Imperioˮ
His screams reverberated around the room as the pain washed over him. He sank to his knees, thrashing around on the ground as it seared through his entire body, cutting into his head; leaving him semi-conscious. In the distant he heard the screams of his mother mixing with his own in a dreadful melody while the death eaters laughed at his pain.
"I am going to make you suffer like you made my son suffer" Crabbe senior said, stopping the pain "And I am going to make your pathetic mother watch so she can know what it feels like to have lost so much"
"Please" his mother whispered "Please"
"Crucio!"
He screamed again as the pain washed over him. It was as if insides were being melted from within, as if his skull were being hammered open until he could focus on nothing but the pain that left a blinding redness at the corners of his eyes. He dug his nails into the wooden floor as the pain settled into his chest suffocating him. Just as he was about to pass out it stopped and he felt something hot streaming down his face. His mother was crying loudly by this time and he heard someone walking over to him; their footsteps like thunder. He felt his half-conscious body being dragged by his feet but he was too weak to fight back.
"No!" his mother continued to sob, "Not my son, no! please…"
This is it he thought, his end was coming and there was nothing he could do. He couldn't even save his mother, he was a failure. He let this sink in with the pain as he continued to allow himself to be dragged around the room. Are you really going to let them win? After they hurt your mother? After they made her cry? He swallowed thickly and felt a rustic tangy taste as he did. No.
He kicked his leg blindly and felt it connect with something
"Oww!ˮ Goyle cried out. Before the death eaters could respond he pushed himself from the ground and tackled Goyle, wrestling him to the ground. The heavier boy pushed him back and he fell but he got up and ran into him, throwing him off balance. He grabbed the wand from the boy's waistcoat but Goyle grabbed his arm, digging into his skin. The pain was overwhelming but Draco still pushed on, no way was he going to let his mother or himself die here.
"Deprimo!ˮ Crabbe senior shouted and sent a blast that forced them apart.
"It's time to end thisˮ he said, approaching Draco "You've proven to be more skilled than I thought shame we have to lose one of our ownˮ
He pointed his wand at Draco
"Any final words?ˮ he asked
Narcissa cried out loudly, begging Crabbe not to do this. Draco looked up at him, locking his eyes with his. If he was going to die, he would look his killer in the eye.
"Nothing to say?ˮ Crabbe senior asked again raising his wand.
Suddenly the door blasted open, causing Crabbe to divert his attention from Draco who rolled out of the way.
"What?!ˮ
He turned to see the minister of magic and Hermione walking into the room pointing their wands at the death eaters.
"Expelliarmus!ˮ Hermione cried, disarming Goyle who looked shocked to see them.
"Give it up Crabbe; we have you surroundedˮ Minister Shacklebolt said
But Crabbe just laughed "Did you really think it would be that easy Kingsley?ˮ he asked as shadows swirled out from the corners of the room surrounding them. The shadows swirled upwards until death eaters emerged from the black clouds pointing their wands at Hermione and the minister.
"It was foolish of you to come here without your entourage minister, you think this mudblood can help you defeat us?ˮ Crabbe said
"I've got to say, I'm impressed you managed to evade the ministry for so long Crabbeˮ Shacklebolt said "But we did not come here aloneˮ
"Confringo!ˮ Aberforth Dumbledore yelled appearing from nowhere and causing several of the death eaters clothing to explode into flames. Draco rolled out of the way as jets of red and green lights erupted around the room as several other people appeared from nowhere. There were shouts of killing curses and protective spells as they two sides battled each other; he barely rolled away as the statue he was hiding behind exploded from a stray spell. He looked around for his mother and saw her cowering at the far end of the room. I have to get to her.
"Expulso!ˮ Hermione cried, just as a huge vase was about to hit him. The vase exploded at his feet and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I need a wandˮ he said over the loud shouts in the room
"Hereˮshe said, tossing her beaded bag to him before turning back to shield herself from a spell.
He fished around the back until he felt the familiar touch of his own wand. How did she have it? He rushed forward, shouting spells at the death eaters nearest his mother. He fought his way to her and shielded her just in time as Goyle sent an Incendio spell towards her.
"Aquamenti!ˮ he cried, causing the fire to evaporate.
"Levicorpusˮ Goyle shouted and Draco deflected his spell with Liberacorpus.
Goyle kept sending spells at him and he kept deflecting them.
"Give it up Goyle, you're not going to win this oneˮ he said, sending a jinx towards the boy.
"Not until I make you suffer for what you did to Crabbeˮ
"Expelliarmus!ˮ Draco shouted, but Goyle blocked his spell.
"You're going to die Malfoyˮ
"We both know you don't have what it takes to kill me Goyleˮ
"You underestimate me, but no matter, you always didˮ the boy shouted, sending another curse to him.
"You don't have to do this Goyleˮ blocking the attack
"Yes I doˮ the boy said, sending more curses his direction. A death eater was blasted between them and Draco used the momentary distraction to get the upper hand
"Expelliarmus!ˮ Draco shouted, catching Goyle off guard.
"Not so tough without your wand now are ya?ˮ Draco said, smirking "Incarcerousˮ Binding ropes shot from Draco's wand, wrapping themselves securing around Goyle.
"Aren't you going to finish me off?ˮ Goyle asked
"No Goyle, I'm not a monsterˮ He replied and turned to get his mother.
"Diffindoˮ he cried, causing the bindings around his mother's arms and legs to snap off.
"Dracoˮ she cried, pulling him into a hug "I thought I was never going to see you againˮ she muttered, sobbing into his shirt. He rubbed her back gently "I'm here now mom, can you walk?ˮ
She nodded and got to her feet. "Stay behind meˮ he said.
"Stupefy!ˮ he yelled, pointing his wand at the nearest death eater.
"Imper…ˮ another death eater shouted, but Draco sent a Langlock spell his way before he could continue.
"Stupefy!ˮ
"Confringo!ˮ someone yelled from behind.
"Protego!ˮ he said, just as fire erupted from behind his shield charm.
"Reducto!ˮ the death eater shouted, causing the roof above Draco to explode.
"Levicorpus!ˮ Lovegood yelled, saving Draco and his mother from being crushed
"Obscuro!ˮ Draco said, causing the death eaters eyes to go blindfolded
"Thanks Lovegood, I owe you oneˮ he said. She nodded and came to stand beside him. "Reparoˮ she muttered, repairing the roof above them.
"Could you get my mother out of here?ˮ He asked, blocking a spell from obliterating him.
"If you can get us some coverˮ the girl sang, sending jinxes to death eaters.
"Protego Horribilisˮ he shouted
"I'm not leaving you Dracoˮ his mother said
"You have to go mother, I promise I'll be with you soon ok?ˮ he replied, trying to keep his focus on keeping the shield charm up.
"Why cat be go together?ˮ she asked, clutching his arm
"Because I can't leave Hermioneˮ he said "Go, I don't know how long this shield will holdˮ
"The girl? But what does she matter? We have to get to safety Dracoˮ
"I love her mother; I'm not going without herˮ
She let go of him reluctantly and looked at him apprehensively.
"You have to go now!ˮ he said as spells bounced off of the shield.
No sooner did she take hold of Lovegood`s hand did they disappear.
Now that my mother's safe, time to end this he thought, charging back into the battle.